McGuffey's Fourth Eclectic Reader Part 6

DEFINITIONS.--l. Blus'ter-ing, being noisy and loud. Bus'tle, stir. 2.

Crest, the top. Quiv'er-ing, trembling, shaking. Mar'gin, edge, border. 3.

Bev'ies, flocks. Pic'tured, painted. Sheen, brightness, splendor of appearance.

EXERCISES.--What did the frost say? What did he do to the mountain? The trees? The lake? What is a "coat of mail"? What did he do to the window?

The pitcher?

XXI. WASTE NOT, WANT NOT. (64)

1. Mr. Jones. Boys, if you have nothing to do, will you unpack these parcels for me?

2. The two parcels were exactly alike, both of them well tied up with good whipcord. Ben took his parcel to the table, and began to examine the knot, and then to untie it.

3. John took the other parcel, and tried first at one corner, and then at the other, to pull off the string. But the cord had been too well secured, and he only drew the knots tighter.

4. John. I wish these people would not tie up their parcels so tightly, as if they were never to be undone. Why, Ben, how did you get yours undone?

What is in your parcel? I wonder what is in mine! I wish I could get the string off. I will cut it.

5. Ben. Oh, no, do not cut it, John! Look, what a nice cord this is, and yours is the same. It is a pity to cut it.

6. John. Pooh! what signifies a bit of pack thread?

7. Ben. It is whipcord.

8. John. Well, whipcord then! what signifies a bit of whipcord? You can get a piece of whipcord twice as long as that for three cents; and who cares for three cents? Not I, for one. So, here it goes.

9. So he took out his knife, and cut it in several places.

10. Mr. Jones. Well, my boys, have you undone the parcels for me?

11. John. Yes, sir; here is the parcel.

12. Ben. And here is my parcel, father, and here is also the string.

13. Mr. Jones. You may keep the string, Ben.

14. Ben. Thank you, sir. What excellent whipcord it is!

15. Mr. Jones. And you, John, may keep your string, too, if it will be of any use to you.

16. John. It will be of no use to me, thank you, sir.

17. Mr. Jones. No, I am afraid not, if this is it.

18. A few weeks after this, Mr. Jones gave each of his sons a new top.

19. John. How is this, Ben? These tops have no strings. What shall we do for strings?

20. Ben. I have a string that will do very well for mine. And he pulled it out of his pocket.

21. John. Why, if that is not the whipcord! I wish I had saved mine.

22. A few days afterward, there was a shooting match, with bows and arrows, among the lads. The prize was a fine bow and arrows, to be given to the best marksman. "Come, come," said Master Sharp, "I am within one inch of the mark. I should like to see who will go nearer."

23. John drew his bow, and shot. The arrow struck within a quarter of an inch of Master Sharp's. "Shoot away," said Sharp; "but you must understand the rules. We settled them before you came. You are to have three shots with your own arrows. n.o.body is to borrow or lend. So shoot away."

24. John seized his second arrow; "If I have any luck," said he;--but just as he p.r.o.nounced the word "luck," the string broke, and the arrow fell from his hands.

25. Master Sharp. There! It is all over with you.

26. Ben. Here is my bow for him, and welcome.

27. Master Sharp. No, no, sir; that is not fair. Did you not hear the rules? There is to be no lending.

28. It was now Ben's turn to make his trial. His first arrow missed the mark; the second was exactly as near as John's first. Before venturing the last arrow, Ben very prudently examined the string of his bow; and, as he pulled it to try its strength, it snapped.

29. Master Sharp clapped his hands and danced for joy. But his dancing suddenly ceased, when careful Ben drew out of his pocket an excellent piece of cord, and began to tie it to the bow.

30. "The everlasting whipcord, I declare!" cried John. "Yes," said Ben, "I put it in my pocket today, because I thought I might want it."

31. Ben's last arrow won the prize; and when the bow and arrows were handed to him, John said, "How valuable that whipcord has been to you, Ben. I'll take care how I waste anything hereafter."

DEFINITIONS,--2. Ex-am'ine, to look at carefully. 6. Sig'ni--fies, to be important. 22. Marks'man, one who shoots well. 28. Pru'dent-ly, with proper caution. 29. Ceased, stopped. 30. Ev--er-last'ing, lasting always.

EXERCISES.--What is this lesson designed to teach? Which of the boys preserved his whipcord? What good did it do him? What did the other boy do with his? What was the consequence? What did he learn from it?

XXII. JEANNETTE AND JO. (67)

By Mary Mapes Dodge, who was born in New York City in 1838. She is the editor of the "St. Nicholas" magazine, and has written many stories for children.

1. Two girls I know--Jeannette and Jo, And one is always moping; The other la.s.sie, come what may, Is ever bravely hoping.

2. Beauty of face and girlish grace Are theirs, for joy or sorrow; Jeannette takes brightly every day, And Jo dreads each to-morrow.

3. One early morn they watched the dawn-- I saw them stand together; Their whole day's sport, 't was very plain, Depended on the weather.

4. "'T will storm!" cried Jo. Jeannette spoke low; "Yes, but 't will soon be over."

And, as she spoke, the sudden shower Came, beating down the clover.

5. "I told you so!" cried angry Jo: "It always is a-raining!"

Then hid her face in dire despair, Lamenting and complaining.

6. But sweet Jeannette, quite hopeful yet,-- I tell it to her honor,-- Looked up and waited till the sun Came streaming in upon her.

7. The broken clouds sailed off in crowds, Across a sea of glory.